20 Myths About Real Leather Couch: Busted

How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux It is often difficult to determine if you are purchasing genuine leather sofas due to misleading product descriptions and price tags. You must get up close and personal with the couch – smell, feel and turn over a couch to look at the back. For example, a “leather couch' CHOICE tested had upholstered “contact” areas (such as the seats and armrests) with genuine leather. The non-contact areas were made of cotton and coated polyester. 1. Smell A genuine leather sofa should smell natural, fresh and luxurious. Faux leather, however, often smells chemically-processed and artificial. If your couch smells bad it could be due to urine from pets. In the majority of cases, a thorough cleaning can eliminate the smell. If you aren't satisfied with the results of your cleaning, apply a leather conditioner. This will bring back moisture to the leather, making it softer and less brittle, as well as more resistant to odors. You can also make use of a natural odor eliminator such as baking soda to remove unpleasant odors from your sofa. Mix equal parts vinegar and water, and then use a cloth (preferably microfibre) to wipe the surface of your leather couch. If the cloth starts to pick up dirt, wring it out or replace with another. You can also spray the solution on your couch. Let the solution dry before wiping it again. The process of airing out your leather is another natural way to eliminate odors. Place the sofa in a sunny space to let it air out. This will eliminate any unpleasant odors, and also give the couch a fresh, natural scent. If you want to avoid unpleasant smells altogether then you should consider buying a leather conditioner that contains healthy oils. This will prevent your leather from taking in odors and keep it smelling good for a longer time. The scent of leather may be attractive, but it's difficult to maintain. As time passes, leather will absorb odors like smoke, cooking and even body smell. These odors are difficult to get rid of, especially when you have pets or children. Genuine leather couches do not hold in these odors the way fabrics can. This makes them an ideal choice for families with active children. If your couch smells like the scent of a puppy's pee, it's important to get the problem addressed immediately. Use the tips listed above or a product such as Leather Honey to resolve the problem. Prevention is the best solution but be sure to teach your dog to not pee on the couch! 2. Feel free to contact us with any questions. If you are looking for a new leather sofa, there are some things to be looking for. But the best way to determine if it's real is to smell it and feel it. Real leather has a distinct, natural scent that is unmistakable. The smell can fade as you age, but it should be evident when the sofa is new. A genuine leather sofa is supposed to be warm and soft to touch. Leathers made of faux and bonded tend to be colder and have an unpleasant plastic feel. To test this test, gently press your fingers on the sofa's surface and look for bumps. If you don't feel bumps, the material is likely to be faux or bonded leather. If you notice vertical seams stitched across the back of a sofa, this is another indicator. leather couch with chaise indicates that the leather isn't a single piece that is the hallmark of genuine leather couches. The quality of the frame of a leather couch can have a significant impact on its lifespan however, it's not always clear. Find out what kind of wood was used to construct the frame. This will help you select a sofa with longevity for a long time. A solid oak frame is the most durable and expensive choice, whereas engineered and particle board frames are less robust. To increase durability, hardwood frames should be dried kiln to avoid mildew or warping. If you're for a price that isn't too expensive, there are a lot of cheap genuine leather sofas that you could nevertheless fall in love with. For instance, the Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa is a fashionable and versatile choice that's frequently available for sale and can be easily customized to fit your home. The La-Z-Boy Manual Reclining Sofa is another option that is budget-friendly. It has a classic look and is available in a wide variety of fabrics that are fade-resistant. The sofa requires assembly at home, and the back cushions tend to slide down. 3. Backing Real leather couches are different from other types of upholstery. Leather sofas are extremely durable and resist wear and tear better than fabric, making them last for years to be. They are also less likely to attract allergens, dust or spills. Leather couches are no different. Like every other purchase, it is essential to be aware of the risks before making a final choice. If you are not sure whether your new couch is made of leather or fabric, you should first check the materials tag that is attached to the frame. This will tell you exactly what kind of fabric it is. If you are unable to find any information regarding the sofa's material composition or the type of leather it is, you can utilize your senses to make a decision. The couch's surface must be carefully examined and pay attention to the patterns, shading and texture. A real leather couch is likely to have imperfections that are natural and may not be uniform in terms of structure, pattern, or shading. If the couch's surface appears smooth and uniform, or shows a mesh-like back in place of coarse suede, this is a dead giveaway that it's fake or synthetic leather. Take a look at the back of the cushion casing. If the cushion has a vertical stitching on the back, it isn't real leather. This is because hides from animals are limited in size and can be cut only to a certain degree. To ensure the best quality of their products, the top manufacturers will sew and stitch across the entire back of a sofa to ensure that it's genuine leather and not fake or bonded leather. If you can lift an area and examine the padding on the back. If the back of the cushion is covered in a woven material or polyurethane then this is an indication that the sofa isn't genuine leather. Genuine leather should be rough and coarse in coating that feels sturdy when you touch it. 4. Patterns A real leather couch is a classic, and with good reason. The soft, natural design and feel can add a touch of class to any living space. Plus the modern tanning process adds a bit of durability to withstand cracks and sagging. Because each hide has distinctive marks, grain, and blemishes each leather couch is truly one-of-a-kind. The best way to determine if the leather you are purchasing is genuine is to examine it up close. Examine the texture of the surface, its structure, and pattern for a more detailed glimpse of its genuine. If the structure is completely uniform and there are no visible flaws, it's most likely faux or bonded leather. Another obvious sign is a polyurethane backing on the back of the sofa. This is a common feature of leather that is bonded. Genuine leather will appear more natural and be supported by materials that closely match the fabric used to create the furniture. Lastly, look at the back of the couch to see one or two stitched vertical seams. This indicates that the leather has been made with care to last. On the other side, if there are no seams and the couch's back appears like a piece of fabric, it's likely a fake or bonded leather couch. Once you've established that your sofa is made of genuine leather, it's time to match it with other furniture for your living space. Match your couch with wooden furniture and add pillows that match the color of your living space. You can also opt for a more dynamic, relaxed arrangement by putting the couch between two pieces furniture, with a coffee table between. Keep your leather sofa away from direct sunlight to stop it fading or forming scratches. If you're looking to extend the life of your leather sofa and protect it from damage use a leather protection agent once or twice per year.